PADI Divemaster Conservation
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga while conserving the environment. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster while protecting the marine ecosystems. With the marine conservation focus, you can combine professional leadership with active marine preservation alongside the area’s leader in conservation.
$ 6.825.000
Indicated price only applies to cash payments.
Important
Indicated price is our promotion price which only applies when paying in cash. For card payments, original price applies. To be eligible for the cash discount:
- Reserve your spot with a deposit online
- Upon arriving, pay with cash at the counter
VAT: Colombian residents +19% (not included in price). Foreign tourists are exempt. Cash discount available.
PADI 5 ★ IDC Resort
Professional teaching for all levels
6 languages
English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian & French
Small Groups
Personalised teaching with individual focus
Secure credit card payments with Bancolombia's Wompi
PADI DIVEMASTER CONSERVATION AT A GLANCE
| Duration | 4 weeks | Certification | PADI Divemaster + 4 PADI Specialty certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Optional — 20 nights available | Minimum age | 18 years |
| Entry level | Start with as few as 30 logged dives | Required dives | 40 to begin Divemaster training; 60 for certification |
| Prerequisite | PADI Rescue Diver or qualifying equivalent | Specialties | Coral Reef Conservation, Dive Against Debris, Fish Identification & Peak Performance Buoyancy |
| Ideal for | Divers combining professional training with marine conservation | Training focus | Dive leadership, buoyancy, marine life, reef conservation & responsible diving |
| Location | Taganga & Tayrona National Park in Santa Marta, Colombia | Conservation activities | Clean-ups, Dive Against Debris & lionfish initiatives when scheduled |
| Equipment | Basic scuba equipment included during training | Training environment | PADI 5★ IDC Dive Resort |
| Price | 6.825.000 COP |
PADI Divemaster Conservation
Turn your passion for the ocean into professional diving skills with the PADI Divemaster Conservation program at Ocean Lovers Taganga, Colombia.
This four-week program combines the complete PADI Divemaster course with four conservation-focused specialty certifications:
- PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation
- PADI Dive Against Debris
- PADI Fish Identification
- PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy
Alongside developing the leadership, supervision, rescue, safety and dive-management skills expected from a Divemaster, you’ll improve your buoyancy, develop a deeper understanding of coral reef ecosystems, learn more about the marine life around you and gain practical experience in marine conservation.
You’ll train at our PADI 5★ IDC Dive Resort in Taganga, with diving around Taganga and Tayrona National Park on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
You may also participate in Ocean Lovers conservation activities such as beach and underwater clean-ups, Dive Against Debris activities and invasive lionfish initiatives when scheduled.
The goal is to become a dive professional who not only leads divers safely, but also understands the environment and encourages responsible diving practices.
Start with only 30 logged dives
You can join the program with a minimum of 30 logged dives.
If you arrive with 30–39 dives, you’ll begin with part of your included specialty training. The dives completed during your specialty courses help you reach the 40 logged dives required to formally begin PADI Divemaster training.
Once you reach 40 dives and meet the remaining prerequisites, you transition into the formal Divemaster course while continuing your conservation and specialty training throughout the program.
What is a PADI Divemaster?
A PADI Divemaster is the first professional level in recreational scuba diving.
As a Divemaster, you learn how to lead certified divers, assist instructors, supervise dive activities, support student divers and help create safe and enjoyable diving experiences.
Your training develops skills in dive leadership, risk management, briefings, diver supervision, navigation, rescue, demonstration-quality skills and professional conduct.
It is also the first major step toward becoming a PADI Instructor.
Who is this program for?
The Divemaster Conservation program is designed for divers who want to combine professional dive training with marine conservation knowledge and practical environmental experience.
It’s especially suited to those who want to:
- Become a PADI Divemaster
- Understand coral reef ecosystems better
- Learn to identify fish and marine life
- Improve buoyancy, trim and underwater control
- Reduce their environmental impact while diving
- Participate in underwater debris monitoring and removal
- Become a more environmentally responsible dive professional
- Help educate and inspire other divers
- Continue toward becoming a PADI Instructor
- Combine a career in diving with ocean conservation
Dive professionals have a unique opportunity to influence how people experience and interact with the underwater world. This program is designed for candidates who want to lead by example.
What’s Included
- Full PADI Divemaster training
- PADI Divemaster eLearning and training materials
- PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialty
- PADI Dive Against Debris Specialty
- PADI Fish Identification Specialty
- PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty
- Required specialty materials and eLearning
- Specialty certification fees
- Conservation-focused practical training
- Required Divemaster and specialty training dives
- Boat trips required for included training
- Hands-on dive-center operational experience
- Direct instructor mentorship
- Basic scuba equipment rental during included training
- Participation in Ocean Lovers conservation activities when scheduled
- Ocean Lovers DMT T-shirt
- Ocean Lovers cap
- Professional training at a PADI 5★ IDC Dive Resort
Please note: The PADI Divemaster professional application/certification fee is paid separately to PADI and is not included.
Become a Dive Professional With Purpose
The PADI Divemaster Conservation program in Taganga, Colombia combines professional Divemaster training with marine conservation specialties and practical environmental experience.
Become a more knowledgeable, controlled and responsible dive professional while learning how to help protect the underwater world you work in.
Become a professional. Understand the ocean. Help protect it.
Requirements
You can join the PADI Divemaster Conservation program with a minimum of 30 logged dives.
To formally begin the PADI Divemaster portion, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or qualifying equivalent
- Have completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care or qualifying CPR and First Aid training within the previous 24 months
- Meet the applicable medical requirements
- Have at least 40 logged dives
Candidates starting with 30–39 dives use their included specialty training to build the additional logged dives required before entering the formal Divemaster course.
A minimum of 60 logged dives is required before final PADI Divemaster certification.
Applicable prerequisites for the included specialty courses must also be met.
Schedule
Duration: 4 Weeks
Your four-week program combines the full PADI Divemaster curriculum with conservation and specialty training throughout your stay.
Training days generally start around 7:00 AM with our morning coffee ritual before preparing the dive center, boat and equipment for the day.
Mornings are usually spent diving, assisting with courses, completing Divemaster exercises, participating in conservation activities or completing specialty training.
Core training often finishes around midday, leaving many afternoons available for eLearning, independent study, assignments or enjoying Taganga.
Some conservation projects and workshops may also take place in the afternoon.
The exact schedule depends on your progression, weather, available conservation activities, training requirements and daily dive-center operations.
Phase 1: Specialty Training & Building Experience
If you arrive with 30–39 logged dives, you’ll begin with part of your included specialty training.
The dives completed during these specialty courses increase your logged-dive total until you reach 40 logged dives and can formally begin PADI Divemaster training.
Candidates arriving with 40+ dives can move directly into Divemaster training while the conservation specialties are integrated throughout the four-week program.
Phase 2: Divemaster Theory & eLearning
Your PADI Divemaster eLearning provides the theoretical foundation for becoming a dive professional.
You’ll cover areas including:
- Divemaster roles and responsibilities
- Supervising dive activities
- Assisting student divers
- Safety and risk management
- Dive physics and physiology
- Equipment
- Decompression theory
- The underwater environment
- Dive planning and management
Your instructor will support you throughout the theory and help prepare you for the required assessments and exams.
Phase 3: Dive Center, Conservation & Professional Experience
Throughout the program, you’ll train alongside the Ocean Lovers team and gain hands-on experience in the daily operation of a professional dive center.
Depending on the schedule, this may include:
- Dive-center preparation
- Equipment preparation
- Customer service
- Dive planning and logistics
- Equipment care and basic maintenance
- Compressor operations
- Assisting instructors and student divers
- Working with certified divers
- Beach clean-ups
- Underwater clean-up dives
- Dive Against Debris activities
- Invasive lionfish activities
- Other Ocean Lovers conservation initiatives
At the same time, you’ll develop the practical skills required of a Divemaster, including:
- Demonstration-quality scuba skills
- Diver supervision
- Dive briefings
- Dive-site setup and management
- Navigation and mapping
- Rescue skills
- Problem solving
- Dive leadership
- Professional conduct
The goal is to become a confident dive professional with the awareness, control and judgment needed to lead by example underwater.
Phase 4: Marine Conservation Specialty Training
PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation
Develop a better understanding of coral reef ecosystems, the threats they face and what divers can do to help protect them.
This knowledge can help you become a better guide and a stronger ambassador for the underwater environment.
PADI Dive Against Debris
Learn how divers can take practical action against marine debris.
You’ll learn how to:
- Conduct an underwater debris survey
- Safely remove suitable debris
- Sort and categorize what you collect
- Understand the impact of marine pollution
- Contribute useful survey information
PADI Fish Identification
Develop techniques for identifying fish using families, characteristics, behavior and habitat.
For a future Divemaster, being able to recognize and explain marine life helps make your guided dives more interesting and educational.
PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy
Develop better control underwater through:
- Proper weighting
- Trim
- Breathing control
- Streamlining
- Precise positioning
- Efficient movement
Excellent buoyancy helps make you a stronger dive professional while reducing accidental contact with coral and other fragile marine life.
How are the specialties scheduled?
Your specialty courses are integrated throughout the four-week program according to your experience, progression, environmental conditions and training schedule.
Add-ons & Extras
RELATED PRODUCTS
Digital Underwater Photography & Peak Performance Buoyancy Combo
Master buoyancy and underwater photography to capture marine life with better control, comfort, and creativity during every dive adventure.
- For:
- Certified divers
- Duration:
- 2 days
- Level:
- Open Water Certified
Price range: $ 340.000 through $ 425.000
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
No certification needed! Learn basic scuba skills in shallow water before enjoying two safe, guided dives in Tayrona with experienced PADI professionals.
- For:
- Beginners
- Duration:
- half day
- Level:
- No experience needed
$ 9.000.000
PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
Become a PADI Instructor in Taganga and inspire future divers worldwide. Build professional teaching skills while starting an exciting dive career abroad!
Note: PADI Instructor Examination and application fees are not included and are paid directly to PADI.
- For:
- Experienced Divemasters
- Duration:
- from 20 to 55 days
- Level:
- Divemaster (or equivalent) & 60+ dives
$ 3.950.000
PADI Divemaster Course
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster. This 2- to 3-week program is suited for already more experienced divers who have at least 40 logged dives.
- For:
- Aspiring Dive Pro's
- Duration:
- 2-3 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives
$ 6.825.000
PADI Divemaster Advanced
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga while building tech-adjacent skills. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster. Ideal for divers looking to step up their technical readiness, bottom-time management, and equipment versatility.
- For:
- Aspiring Dive Pro's
- Duration:
- 4 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives
$ 6.825.000
PADI Divemaster Conservation
Turn your passion into a dive career in Taganga while conserving the environment. Build leadership skills, assist instructors, and learn to safely guide divers as a PADI Divemaster while protecting the marine ecosystems. With the marine conservation focus, you can combine professional leadership with active marine preservation alongside the area’s leader in conservation.
- For:
- Eco-conscious divers
- Duration:
- 4 weeks
- Level:
- Rescue Diver Certified / 40 dives